Intervention(s)
The PEJA project (“Improving Youth Employability through Informal Apprenticeships”) seeks to facilitate skills transfer to apprentices by providing equipment grants to master craftspersons, along with providing additional training (technical skills, business skills and socio-emotional skills) to craftspersons and apprentices alike, and then introducing additional incentives for apprentices to complete formal certification of their skills. The main beneficiaries are young informal apprentices, aged 15 to 25, and their masters. It is worth noting that the program does not place youth in workshops: beneficiaries are apprentices who have selected themselves into apprenticeships before the beginning of the program. The project targets urban areas, where traditional apprenticeships are more prevalent: it is implemented in the four departments of the Dakar region and in 15 regional capitals or economic hubs (Diourbel, Fatick, Kaffrine, Kaolack, Kedougou, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Mbacke, Mbour, Saint-Louis, Sedhiou, Tambacounda, Thies, and Ziguinchor). In its first wave the program targeted workshops from 8 trades (tailoring, metalwork, woodwork, auto-mechanics, hairdressing, market gardening, refrigeration/air conditioning, processing of fruits and vegetables).
At the level of the apprentice, the PEJA consists of the following interventions:
- Literacy training for illiterate apprentices. Apprentices were assigned to this treatment based on their level of formal education.
- Business skills training. Business skills training was provided in class. It followed the Start and Improve your Business curricula (with a focus on “Generate your business idea” and “Start your business”) adapted for the apprentice population.
- Socio-emotional skills training. The training was provided in class and covered self-esteem, self-affirmation, sense of initiative, compliance with commitment, risk-taking, communication, problem solving, perseverance, and networking.
- Two one-time cash transfers to enable youth to embark on a path of self-employment. First, an economic inclusion cash transfer (US$200, with a 50 percent premium for women) provided to young apprentices, conditional on participation in the business training. Second, a performance-based cash transfer (US$216 with a 100 percent premium for women) provided to apprentices who have obtained validation of their skills.
At the master craftsperson level, the PEJA interventions aimed at benefiting apprentices indirectly through an improvement of their learning environment. This includes the following components:
- Technical training for masters. Once the masters’ needs have been identified, the project supported a technical training (5 days in class). This activity was expected to expand the scope of technical skills transferred and to improve the quality of apprenticeship training.
- Business skills training. Business skills training was provided in class. It followed the Start and Improve your Business curricula (with a focus on “Improve your business”).
- Socio-emotional skills training. The training was provided in class and covered self-esteem, self-affirmation, sense of initiative, compliance with commitment, risk-taking, communication, problem solving, stress management, teamwork, conflict resolution and leadership.
- Pedagogical skills training. This training aimed at improving the transmission of technical skills to apprentices.
- Capital grant to upgrade the technology used in the workshop. Equipment (worth US$2,000 on average) was provided to masters after an assessment of their needs during the business skills training.